Oh of course I imagine a lot of it was scary times, and I don't mean to doubt that at all. My original point was I would have liked to experience The Dell as it was back then as it's so different. Saying that I only went to the Dell once anyway and I don't really remember it!
It wasn't all bad, and the Dell was pretty safe compared to most grounds in the top flight. And you have to remember that when I started going to football, there was hardly any football on TV, and it was all in black and white, so actually going to a match and seeing the incredible colours and hearing the noise of the crowd was just amazing to a kid.
The best single thing in football is walking up the steps on a midweek winter game under floodlights, when you first smell and then see the brilliant green of the grass pitch. Even now, it gets me. The scene in fever pitch when the lad goes to see Arsenal for the first time is brilliant. And true.
After only seeing football on TV, I was amazed how big real footballers were. Stupid I know....but that thought honestly crossed my mind.
I`d never seen football in colour until my first game in 1968 - arriving at the top of the terrace and looking down on the scene before me, I was overwhelmed by the sea of colour - green, red, white and maroon. I`ll never forget it.
I absolutely loved The Dell and had my season ticket just above the right hand corner of the goal at Milton Road. The massively disorganised warm-ups were something to behold. Scariest terrace I've been on was Wimbledon vs Walsall at the old Plough Lane. Treacherous.
Not dangerous in the same way, but I didn't like the higher level of the Millenium Stadium. The seat in front scarcely came passed your ankle....one slip and you would be crowd surfing.
Have watched Saints from all sides of the Dell, finally settling into a spot under the East stand, where the terracing tapered behind the seats. There were only about 3 or 4 steps, so no danger of crowd surge. I watched the Saints v Arsenal, MLT scoring the last competitive goal there, from the East stand, having to be asked to sit down after celebrating Matt's goal for too long. Who were our opponents when the game was cancelled due to frozen toilets, and when was it?
I loved it for exactly that reason. Upper tiers at Stamford Bridge and WHL are similar. Lean forward and you feel like you could fly across the pitch.
Funny you should mention this concern because I was looking at big stadium interiors about just this subject on Google Maps the other evening and came across Barcelona's Nou Camp. Some of the god's tiers look a bit iffy to me, and frankly, I'd want to be a lot closer to the pitch anyway. Example composite image here [note breaks in the metal bars in foreground]:
Go to Goodison and there are still plenty of pillars to block your view. Go to the London Stadium and there are plenty of numbskulls who do not believe in sitting down to block your view. I ended up watching the screen!!
I have always wanted to visit this place... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
That's my target. Definitely on my "to do" list. Originally planned to do with my mate, but apparently that's not allowed, so it may be a joint trip with the wives and tying in a wine trip too! Mmmm Steak and Malbec
There are, according to my ex missus who lived out there for a while, two religions in Argentina. Football, and eating steak. So something for everyone really. Might want to work on your tango as well before you go.
I just found this by accident... towards the end as the lad comes up the steps.... I can smell it myself.